Bit of a jumble of a story. Torygraph interested in the dissident Republican angle, but having difficulty shoehorning it into what appears to be primarily a Spanish-Italian operation. Ndrangheta allegedly involved, but journalist manages to mentioned Camorra too. The only clear piece of information is that Italian police want to find a Belfast based individual and have arrested a couple of Italians in Spain. Oh and some villas have been built in the South of Italy. The book and film will no doubt follow. Maybe there’s a better article in the Italian press.

We are extremely happy to inform you that a Standing Group section entitled “Transnational Organised Crime in a Globalised World” has been accepted for the ECPR General Conference, which will take place in Bordeaux from the 5th to the 7th September 2013.

Move along there. Nothing criminal going on here. How the rich attempt to gain prestige and tax refunds by dabbling in art and how the dealers play both ends against the middle. Not really surprising stuff gets stolen, eh? I suppose graffiti is mysteriously disappearing all over Chicago as you read this…Will it be tax-deductible to buy a building with a Bansy on the wall soon? “I was preserving it for the nation. Oops…it fell down…”

Useful sceptical view. Points out that everyone [ie states] is doing it and that China isnt as secure as it is presented. The military-digital complex can be more profitable than the military-industrial complex, he says.

The Ransomware virus. You get a message from Europol or a national police force claiming to be fining you 100 euros for looking at child porn, file sharing or terrorist sites. Clever stuff. Not too much and all recently created offences with high media exposure. Better to pay and keep quiet!